Separator for removing entrained liquid particles from a flowing gaseous medium



Sept. 12, 1950 A. M. GOODLOE 2,521,785

SEPARATOR FOR REMOVING ENTRAINED LIQUID PARTICLES FROM A FLOWING GASEOUS MEDIUM Filed April 9, 1948 V IN V EN TOR. AgfedM $200706,

j MED l STAT Patented Sept. 12 1950 1a;

Es OFFICE HSEIPARATOB Fort Removing ENTRAINED LIQUID PARTICLES FROM ,A ,FLOWING GAsEoUs MEDIUM Alfred Minor Goodloe, Upper Montclair, N. J., as-

.signor to Metal Textile Corporation, West Orange, N. J acorporationof Delaware Application April s, 194sjs'eri'a1Ndi-iacss' v This invention relates to improvements in entrainment separators adapted to remove liquid particles which are entrained in a flowing gaseous medium; and the invention is especially adapted foruse in a pressure line leading from a compressor, such e. g. as an air compressor, whereby to remove liquid particles, such e.g-.' as

oil, moisture and the like, from the output ofthe compressor before said output is delivered to a place of use. v

It'has been observed that the output of a; compressor, such e. g. as an air compresson'frequently carries, in entrainment therewith, very finely divided particles of oil which escape from the lubrication of the compressor, and sometimes particles of water which are derived from moisture laden air taken into the compressor.;' Such liquid particles are frequently so fine as to form a mist or fog which is very difiicult to separate from the compressed air output of the compressorby' reason of the resistance to coalescence which is offered by such finely divided particles. I have discovered that minute mist or fog forming liquid particles can be caused to coalesce when the gaseous stream, in which they are entrained, is .caused to traverse a very finely divided and densely packed mass of finely knitted metallic mesh or similar metallic strand material, provided thegaseous stream, in which the liquid particles are entrained, is caused to flow through said separator mass at sufiiciently high velocity to cause the liquid particles to impinge, collect and coalesce upon the surfaces of the strands from which the separator mass is formed.

This alone, however, does not solve the problem,

because, owing to the high velocity of the gaseous stream,-there is too muchresistance to the gravi- "tation of the drops of coalesced liquid particles from-the separator mass, and-therefore collection of the liquid ina sump below the separator mass is prevented. For this reason removal of 'the liquid from the gaseous stream is not accomplished, but on the contrary, the liquid drops are l carried-on with the gaseous stream merely-in "dr'opsof larger size. Having ascertained this; I have-further discovered that no attempt "should jbe made' to separate the enlarged liquid drops *from the gaseous stream during the progress of said stream through the finely interstitial primary separator mass, but rather said enlarged" liquid drops should beallowed to discharge with the gaseous stream'from said primary separator niassjand thereafter caused to engage asecondary separatoimass, of relativelyicoarse intersti- "tial' character, through which the gaseous stream [4 Claims. (01. 183-70) flows at reduced velocity, so that, under such conditions, the liquid drops may be arrested, and the force of gravity may become effective upon the arrested drops so as to cause the same to drop out ofthe gaseous'stream into a suitable collectingchamberor sump, and the gaseous stream,

.rree from 'entrained liquid, can then be dis- ,masses, and means for discharging the gaseous "medium issuing from the secondary separator ass I with; the cross-sectional area of arator mass.

sam -1,1, fAnillustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, 'in which: l isa longitudinal vertical sectional view charged from the secondary separator'mass to a desired place of use. =m'ass' preferably comprises The secondary separator a comparatively loosely packed and coarsely interstitial mass of more openly knitted metallic mesh or similar strand material, the b'ody'of which is of substantially enlarged cross-sectional area as compared the primary sep- "Having'the above in View, it is an object of this invention to provide a novel entrainment separator apparatus which functions by the above stated mode of operation, and which, to such end, comprises a, casing containing a'primary separa- "tormass offine interstitial character, a secondary separator mass of relatively coarse interstitial character and relatively enlarged cross-sectional areaspaced above said primary separator mass, with a liquid collecting chamber or sump below said secondary separator mass from which collected liquid may be discharged, said casing havingfme'ans for admitting a gaseous medium for movement through said successive separator f othe objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from thefollowing detailed description of the through an entrainment separator apparatus 'rn'ade'a'c cording to this invention; Fig.2 is a fragrneritary horizontal cross-sectional view, taken on j liner- 2, in Fig; 1; and Fig. 3 is another fragmentary horizontal cross-sectional view, taken on similar characters'of reference are employed I the herinabo've described views, to indicate corresponding parts. I

1 "B.efe'rring to the drawings, the reference character lllindicates the casing of the apparatus,

' is closed at it's bottom'and top ends by the respective bottom wall I I and top wall I2. Said nlay Pepi any desired cross-sectional shape," but is preferably cylindrical, of suitable "length, and of diametric size to permit flow therethrough of the gaseous medium to be treated at a desired cubic feet per minute rate. Said casing will be constructed to accommodate and withstand the pressure of the gaseous medium which is to becaused toiflowtherethrough'.

The interior. of: thetkcasing is subdiVidedbby a transverse partition wall I3 which is spaced upwardly from the bottom wall I I, thus providingsa;

gaseous medium intake chamber I4 beneath said ing It, so as to enter the intake chamber Iii-is a gaseous medium delivery conduit or pipe I5,

which leads from a compressor (notvsh'own) or.

other source of gaseous medium supply:

located therein.

and so as to extend upwardly from the latter within theinterior-otthe casing, is an-;upstanding endwise-open housing member: II. This housing member-z I I is of substantiallyreducedcrosssectional area as compared with the cross-sec- .tional-areaof the interior of the-casing Illa The denselycompacted to provide a body of fine interstitial structure. Preferably said primary. separator mass I8 is composed of a rather. tightly knit mesh knitted frommetallicwire in the range owes diameter or less. It willv beunderstood, however; that the size of the'wira-denseness of the pack and diameter, and length sizes of the.

body .formed .therefromcan the. varied to best accommodate the natureof themist or fog formingiliquid particles entrainedin the gaseousmediumto be treated, and for accommodation to the velocity. atwhichthe gaseous medium is desired to'be moved throughthebody- A primary separator mass ofthe kind above mentioned has been ioundtobe very. eificientior coalescing fog or .mistf, forming l quid particles of oil or water entrained in compressed air moving therethrough at a velocity of from two. to three thousand linealfe'et perminute; The primary separator mass I8 can be secured within and against displacement from the housing member H in any suitable man'- 'ner. One illustrative means for retaining the primary separator'mass in place within the nousin'g member, as shown,'comprises transverse retainer pins I9 which are engaged through'th'e walls of the housing member respectively across the bottom and top ends of said primary separator mass I8.

Spacedabove the discharge end of the housing member I! and its containedprimary separator mass I 8 is an enlarged secondary separator mass 20, of suitable length or height, whichfills the entire cross-sectional area of theinte'rior of the casing ID. This secondary separator. mass 20 comprises an agglomeration .of comparatively coarse metallic strands whichare substantially less densely compacted to provide a bo'dyofcomparatively, coarse or more open interstitial struc--' ture. Preferably said secondary separator mass 20 is composed of a comparatively loosely knit mesh knitted from metallic wire. Meansis provided for supporting the secondary separator I 10 a gaseousmedium outlet chamber 23. partition wall. Suitably connected-with the cas--- mass 20 across the interior of the casing Ill; which means may comprise a suitable grating, such e. g. as one composed of woven wire mesh as shown at 2I. Said grating is supported by a carrying flange 22 which is affixed to and projects from: theiwalls of ,the casing 'I'hersecondaryv. separator. mass: 202.,is spaced downwardly from the top wall I2 of the casing I0, thus providing, within the upper end of the latter, Suitably connected witlrithe casing I0, so as to lead out ofxtheioutletachamber 23, is a gaseous medium discharge conduit or pipe 24, through which the gaseous -medium ,.x.substantially free from en- 7 g a :trained1iquid',.may:be delivered to a desired place The partition wall I3 is provided with an opena I ing or port I6, which is preferably-.-centra1ly.

Connected with""the partition wall l3, in register with said opening orcport- [6,

Suitablemeans is provided for holding the secondaryseparator mass against upward displacement from its operative position within the 20 interior of the casing in. An illustrative means for thisspurpose -as shown-,;,:comprises.-a :keeper spider 28-having a plurality otradialarms tobear against-the-upper end, of the secondary separator masslfl. Said -keeperspider 28 is supportedrbya suspension 1od:.29 which-.is suitablyronnected with the .casingtop wall I2 so as tel-depend there,-

from.

The a space within the :interior .of- 1the-casing lflvzintermediate thezpartition wall I3 and the 1-30 secondary separator mass 20, andiaroundythe upstandinghousing member. H which -.contains the primary. separator. mass :1 8, provides'zanrannularflwelluor sump. 25: into which liqu id,:-coa lesced into drops -by ;the separator; masses, may

.fall by-gravity. and-accumulates: Mounted'on thfiXt-EIiOllflfuthQ: casing l0, so as. to communicate. with the .interior of theawell i or .sump- ;25, is a liquid level gauge H -which is ,-.operative to indicate the depth -of-.-liquid which haseaccumu- 4olated in. said wellor sump. Coupled connection; with the-lower end-.oissaid .gauge; 26 is .a

faucet or tape?! through which the accumulated liquid may berlrawn oif. from said. well ,or sump 1 when necessaryI H war-mine entrainment .separatorapparatus is connected in a line through .Which a aseous medium -tobe.-treated.-.fiows, asieng. in the discharge. line of .an air compressor, the 1 compressed air enters theuintakea-chamber aM, through the eonduitiorupipe l5i From the intake chamber "'I 4, the air-is-compelled to pass upwardly through thehousing memberII, and the primary separator masstla containedzthereinw Owing .to':the comparatively small .cross-sectional area; @0fthe housing member. I L, the lairiscausedtotraverse the primary separator. mass 1.1 8- at: high velocity.

Sincenthetprimary separator. mass: I 8 :is of ,relatively fineinterstitial structure;. minute rfogar mistforming. liquid particles} entrained-a in. r the I air are caused .to impinge on .1 the filaments: .or

strandsaof the primary separator mass sand are thus brought into. intimate contact suflicient. to cause. said Y particles to coalesce, and thereby] to form comparativelylarge drops Thadrops thus mass 20, as the air enters the latter, which is of enlarged interstitial structure, the entrained drops of liquid will impinge upon the filaments or strands of the secondary separator mass, so as to be arrested thereby, and so that some fur ther coalescence and enlargement of the liquid drops occurs. Owing to the enlarged lcross sectional area of the casing I and the contained secondary separator mass 20 relative to that of the housing member I! and contained primary separator mass [8, the velocity of air flow drops considerably, as the air enters and traverses said secondary separator mass. As a result of this, the resistance to gravitation of the formed liquid drops is so reduced that said drops are subject to the influence of gravity, and consequently fall downwardly out of the secondary separator mass into the well or sump 25, so as to be collected in the latter. In this manner, the liquid entrained in the air is efiiciently separated therefrom so that, by the time the air emerges from the secondary separator mass, said air is substantially free from entrained liquid. The air thus freed from entrained liquid is thereupon discharged from the outlet chamber 23 through the pipe or conduit 24 to a desired place of use.

Having now described by invention, I claim;

1. Apparatus for separating entrained liquid from a flowing gaseous medium comprising a casing closed at its ends, means to deliver a gaseous medium to be treated into the lower interior of said casing, means to discharge treated gaseous medium from the upper interior of said casing, means intermediate the lower and upper interior portions of said casing adapted to provide a passage of substantially reduced diameter, an interstitial primary separator mass filling said passage, said passage being adapted to accelerate flow of gaseous medium through said primary separator mass at a high velocity and thereby form large drops of entrained liquid and project them upward, an interstitial secondary separator mass of cross-sectional area substantially corresponding to that of the casing, said secondary separator mass being fixed above the discharge end of said passage and its contained primary separator mass and being adapted to decelerate flow of the gaseous medium to a reduced velocity and cause coalescence of the liquid drops that are projected into the same, and means beneath said secondary separator mass adapted to provide a liquid collecting sump.

2. Apparatus for separating entrained liquid from a flowing gaseous medium as defined in claim 1, wherein the primary separator mass comprises an agglomeration of metallic filaments densely packed to form a body of fine interstitial structure, and wherein the secondary separator mass comprises an agglomeration of metallic filaments less densely packed to form a body of relatively coarse interstitial structure.

3. Apparatus for separating entrained liquid from a flowing gaseous medium comprising a casing closed at its bottom and top ends, a transverse partition spaced above the bottom end of said casing and having an opening therein, an endwise open, upstanding housing member of reduced cross sectional area supported by said partition in registration with the opening therein, an interstitial primary separator mass mounted within said housing member and being adapted to form large drops of entrained liquid and project them upward, an interstitial secondary separator mass of relatively large cross-sectional area supported within said casing above said partition and the top discharge end of said housing member and adapted to cause coalescence of the liquid drops that are projected into the same, the annu-- lar space around said housing member intermediate said partition and said secondary separator structure, and wherein the secondary separator mass comprises an agglomeration of metallic filaments less densely packed to form a body of relatively coarse interstitial structure.

ALFRED MINOR GOODLOE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,458,005 Rohrer June 5, 1923 1,739,093 Ruby Dec. 10, 1929 

